Particular polishing apparatus having a vertical working vessel



March 1970 c. LE GUEN DE KERGOLAN 3,

PARTICULAR POLISHING APPARATUS HAVING A VERTICAL WORKING VESSEL FiledJuly 21, 1967 1 l l 22 11 23 x I 25 27 I 24 1 i as 16 s 12 1.4 l i5 15 49 Int. ci.1 i24b 31/02 Us. (131-164 Claims ABSTRACT or THE-DISCLOSUREApparatus for working and in particular polishing articles in avesselhaving a vertical axis about which it rotates .while theverticalaxis .rotates about another vertical axis spaced from the axis of thevessel, the bottom of the vessel being at least partially inclined sothat the articles in the vessel undergo an alternating motion which isboth vertical, and horizontal.

The present invention relates to improvements in article working, and inparticular polishing, apparatuses having a vertical working vessel.

Apparatuses of this type are known which comprise a platform rotatingabout a first vertical axis on which the working vessel, in which thearticles to be treated are disposed, is mounted for rotation about asecond vertical axiswhich is .eccentric relative to the first axis. Atransmission system having a chain and sprocket wheels of appropriatetransmission ratio connects a first fixed sprocket wheel centered onvthe first axis to a second sprocket wheel which is centered on thesecond axis and integral with the working vessel. The absolute movementof the latter therefore results from the composition of the twoelementary movements, namely a rotation of the vesselabout the firstaxis and a rotation of the vessel about itself, namely about the secondaxis.

The apparatuses of this type impart to the articles and other bodiesplaced in the-working tank, such as polishing agents/or abrasives inpowdered form or in pieces, a centrifugal force which intensifies thealternating stirring or agitating action inside the vessel due to therotation, for the working, and in particular polishing, of the articlestherein.

In all the known apparatuses of :this type having a vertical workingvessel, the bottom face of the vessel is horizontal so that the relativemovement of each article or individual body in the vessel is alsohorizontal.

The object of the present invention is to improve this type of apparatusso that it can effect an alternating stirring in two directions, namelyin horizontal and vertical directions.

The invention provides an apparatus for working, and in particularpolishing articles, said apparatus comprising a platform rotatable abouta first vertical axis and at least one vertical working vessel mountedon said platform to rotate about a second vertical axis spaced from thefirst axis, a transmission system connecting a first fixed toothed wheelcentered on the first axis and a second movable toothed wheel centeredon the second axis and integral with the vessel so as to impart amovement of rotation of the vessel about the second axis when theplatform rotates about the first axis, the bottom of the vessel being atleast partially inclined relative to the horizontal, so as to produce analternating movement of the articles and bodies placed in the workingvessel, which is both vertical and horizontal.

The advantage of the apparatus according to the in- Tnited States Patent0 3,500,590 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 vention is that it produces a morecomplete stirring or agitation of the bodies in the Working vessel.

Moreover, the emptying of the liquid in the vessel can be elfected veryeasily while operating by means of a pipe extending from the lowermostpoint of the bottom of the vessel.

The apparatus according to the invention has the additional advantageover similar apparatuses which have a horizontal axis of rotation andvessels having a lateral opening. Thus, owing to the fact that thevessel is closed at the upper part thereof by an easily removable lid,the filling thereof is very easy, as opposed to vessels having a lateralopening which result in a limitation of the dimensions of the articlesintroduced, in particular when it concerns assemblies provided withparts.

The vertical vessel can have any desiredcross-section,

this section being, however, preferably hexagonal or octogonal.

' Further features and advantages of the in ntion will be apparent fromthe ensuing description with reference to the accompanying singledrawing which is a vertical sectional view.

The apparatus according to the invention comprises a fixed stand 1through which extends a vertical column 2 carrying a fixed toothed wheel3 at the upper end thereof. The vertical axis x-y of the column 2constitutes the axis of rotation of a horizontal plate 4 which bears onrollers 5 having horizontal spindles carried by the stand 1 and evenlyspaced apart about the axis x-y.

The plate 4 is extended downwardly by a sleeve 6 at the lower end ofwhich is secured an annular runway 7, having a slightly frustoconicalface on which rollers 8 roll. The rollers 8 are mounted on the stand 1to rotate about axes which are slightly inclined relative to thevertical. The runway 7 is integral with a toothed wheel 9 which isdriven in rotation by a suitable motor (not shown) through a chain or agear train.

Mounted on the platform 4 is a work vessel 11 having a vertical axis x ywhich is spaced from the axis of rotation x-y of the platform 4. Thisvessel can have any horizontal cross-sectional shape and in particularan octogonal shape, as illustrated. The vessel 11 has in the lower partthereof an inner skirt portion 12 having a generally frustoconical shapein which rollers 13 are mounted to rotate about horizontal axes, theserollers rolling along the upper face of the platform 4. The rollers 13are evenly spaced apart around the axis x -y of the vessel 11. Rollablealong the outer face of the skirt 12 are rollers 14 having axes ofrotation which are inclined relative to the vertical and are evenlyspaced 7 apart around the axis x y and mounted on supports 15 fixed tothe platform 4. An outer cylindrical skirt 16, integral with the vessel11, covers all the support rollers 14.

The vessel 11 is integral with a toothed wheel 17 which is fixed to itschassis and centered on the axis x y of the vessel. This toothed wheel17 is coupled to the fixed toothed wheel 5 by a transmission system 18(of the chain or gear type).

The vessel 11 comprises a vertical lateral wall 19 having a prismaticoctogonal cross-sectional shape and is closed in the lower part thereofby a bottom .wall 21, the upper face of which is inclined to thehorizontal in accordance with the invention. A coating or layer 22 ofplastics material, rubber or any other material which sufiicientlyresists to erosion, is advantageously adherized to the inner faces ofthe lateral Wall 18 and the bottom wall 21.

When the apparatus is in operation, the vessel '11 is closed by an upperlid (not shown). The vessel also has an emptying aperture 23 which opensonto an outer spout 24 and is closed by a door 25.

, When the apparatus is operating, that is, with the vessel L1 closed bythe upper lid and filled for a polishing operaion with articles to bepolished and a powdered abrasive material, the wheel 9, isdriven inrotation at a suitable peed by the motor (not shown). The rotaryplatform 4 bus rotates about the axis xy, it being supported by ollers 5and maintained in position by rollers 8. The 'ertic'al axis x -y of thevessel therefore rotates about he axis x-y and at the same time rotatesabout the axis 1,-y owing to the connection, afiorded by the transmisionsystem 18, between the fixed toothed wheel 3 and the novable toothedwheel 17.

The transmission ratio is chosen to suit the treatment it s desired tocarry out.

It will therefore be understood that. the materials conained in thevessel 11 are subjected to a relative stirring nr agitating movementwhich alternates both in the hori- .ontal. plane and,-ow ing to theinclined face of the bot- I L vertical tube 28 which extends through,and is coaxial r vith, the toothed wheel 17. The tube 28 extends through.n opening 29 in the rotary plate 4 and opens into a fixed ylindricalcollector 31 carried by the column 2. This ollector 31 has a centreaperture 32 for discharging the iquid received when draining.

In the course of the rotation of the vessel 11 about tself, thepassageway 26 and the tube 28 rotate, at the ame time as the toothedwheel "17, about the axis x -y The apparatus just described allows avery easy r nsng while in operation. In this case, it sufficies toprovide water inlet connection in the centre of the upper lid and:onnect this inlet connection to a water supply by way of tfiexiblepipe.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has leen described, manymodifications and changes may be made therein without departing from thescope of the nvention as defined in the appended claims.

Thus, in order to balance the apparatus, a plurality of 'essels can berotatably mounted on the platform 4 in :ven manner about the axis x-y.

The bottom wall 21 of the vessel is not necessarily llane. Depending onthe desired applications, it can be given any suitable shape; forexample it can be corrugated 1r conical.

The vessel 11 can be mounted on the platform 4 and he latter on thefixed stand 1 by means of intermediate olling elements (for exampleballs, rollers, needles'or runcated cones) for example of syntheticmaterial, rubber r metal capable of supporting the weight of the movingarts and withstanding the lateral reactions during the movement of thelatter. These moving parts could be ad- 'antageously freely mounted,that is, without embodied 1X68, between two runways or races with, ifnecessary, 1 cage for maintaining the spacing therebetween.

Having now described my invention what I claim as 4 r system connectingva first fixed ..toothed wheel centered on the first axis and a secondmovable toothed wheel centered on the second axis and integral with thevessel so as to impart a movement of rotation of the vessel about thesecond axis when the platform rotates about the first axis; thevessel'ha v ing a substantially vertical lateral wall and a bottom'inner face which is at least partially inclined relative to thehorizontal, so as to produce an alternating movement of the material inthe working vessel, which is both vertical and horizontal.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a passagewayfordraining the vessel, said passageway communicating at one end withthe lowermost point of the bottom face of the vessel and at the otherend with a vertical discharge tube which extends through said movabletoothed wheel and into a cylindrical collector located under the rotaryplatform and has an axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of theplatform.

3. An apparatus'as claimed in claim 1, wherein'said lateral wall of thevessel is provided with an aperture at the lower point of said bottomwall, a door being provided for closing said aperture when the apparatusis in use and for opening said aperture and discharge the material fromthe vessel when the polishing step is over.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toothed wheels areidentical where-by the rotation speeds about said axes are equal.

5. An apparatus for polishing articles, said apparatus comprising aplatform rotatable about a first vertical axis and a working vesselmounted on said platform to rotate about a second vertical axis spacedfrom the first axis, said toothed wheels being identical so that therotation speeds about said axes are equal, the vessel having asubstantially vertical lateral wall, a detachable cover and atransmission system connecting a first fixed toothed wheel centered onthe first axis and a second movable toothed wheel centered on the secondaxis and integral with the vessel so as to impart a movement of rotationof the vessel about the second axis when the platform rotates about thefirst axis the vessel having a substantially vertical lateral Wall and abottom inner face which is at least partially inclined relative to thehorizontal, so as to produce an alternating movement of the material inthe working vessel, which is both vertical and horizontal, said lateralwall of the vessel being provided with an aperture at the lower point ofsaid bottom wall, a door being provided for closing said aperture whenthe apparatus is in use and for opening said aperture and discharge thematerial from the vessel when the polishing step is over, and apassageway being provided for draining the vessel, said passagewaycommunicating at one end with the lowermost point of the bottom face ofthe vessel and at the other end with a vertical discharge tube whichextends through said movable toothed wheel and into a cylindricalcollector located under the rotary platform and has an axis coincidingwith the axis of rotation of the platform.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,566,770 12/1925 Packer 233-25X1,945,035 1/1934 Green 51-164X 3,013,365 12/1961 Harper 51-164 HAROLD D.WHITEHEAD, Primary Examiner Us. 01. X.R. 2339-25

